​Lucy English and I curated a selection of Poetry Films for the Environment for LYRA 2020, March 14 in Bristol, where the theme was part of the festival this year. We had an international screening with films from: Mary McDonald, Penn Kemp; Ian Gibbins; Helen Dewbery, Suzannah Evans; Helen Moore, Howard Vause; Jutta Pryor, Lucy English; Janet Lees; Fiona Tin Wei Lam, Tisha Deb Pillai; Valerie LeBlanc, Daniel Dugas; Meriel Lland; Sarah Tremlett.  Please go to www.liberatedwords.com to find the screening booklet; a recorded panel discussion (Mark Smalley of Extinction Rebellion, ecopoetry filmmaker Meriel Lland and myself did not attend due to the onset of the virus) with Helen Moore, Caleb Parkin and Lucy English; and currently essays by Meriel Lland and Lucy English, with others to follow by Caleb and Helen. We will be showcasing more films on our shared ecosystem in the future.
 
After hearing this really interesting discussion, I would like to retitle our collection of Poetry Films ‘for the Environment’ as ‘Poetry Films for a Shared Ecosystem’. As Helen Moore noted the very term environment puts man at the centre and everything else seemingly ‘out there’ in a binary of culture and nature. So many vital points raised, particularly in relation to artistic practice, and how a poem for a poetry film, rather than the page, may need a different structural approach – more space – to allow for the other elements of moving image and supportive soundscape. Ultimately, they agreed that ‘shifts in perception’ and/or empowering others, or simply gaining knowledge (as a maker or viewer) were all outcomes that they hoped might result from watching these films, which highlight a planet in crisis.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 ​VideoBardo - great screening presentation from Marisol Bellusci and Javier Robledo from Buenos Aires with incredible translation by Lucia Sellars, supported by Bristol Poetry Institute and the wonderful Rebecca Kosick. So pleased to be able to continue links begun in 2012 between LW and VideoBardo. Check LW website www.liberatedwords.com for translated transcriptions and further discussion with VideoBardo.

​I was first invited to present a paper and screening at VideoBardo in 2012, and when Lucy and I first formed Liberated Words it was important to me to establish a special link with them. Since then I have been trying to get them to to the UK to talk about video poetry in Argentina and Latin America. I now have great pleasure in announcing that Marisol Bellusci (and via Skype director Javier Robledo) from VideoBardo will be in discussion with myself, in Bristol, on the 12th of February, 6–7.30.  The event is hosted by Bristol Poetry Institute and has kindly been made possible by Dr Rebecca Kosick, lecturer in the School of Modern Languages at Bristol University. We are also indebted to the patient and wonderful videopoet Lucia Sellars, who has held the event together with her excellent translation of sometimes complex themes.
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This is a UNIQUE experience, so please come along – FREE AND OPEN TO ALL. Artists who will be screened: Paula Herrera Vivas / Argentina; Mariana Maia da Silva / Brazil; María Papi / Argentina; Loayza Claudia Peru / Argentina; Melissa Haller / Argentina; Marisol Bellusci & Luis Saray / Argentina-Colombia; Nicolás M. Pintos / Argentina; Dan Boord and Luis Valdovino / USA- Argentina; Pagan Maximum / Argentina; Javier Robledo / Argentina.
6.00 pm, 12 February 2020 / Old Council Chamber Room /
 1.11 Wills Memorial Building, Bristol University, Queens Rd, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1RJ.
For questions, contact rebecca.kosick@bristol.ac.uk 
 

Honoured to be part of REELpoetry, Houston (24–26 Jan) where Dave Bonta of Moving Poems will be featured this year. I will be presenting Uprooted – poetry films relating to migration and the refugee crisis – with Canadian media artist and storyteller Mary McDonald, whose powerful, thought-provoking and arresting film On the Margin of History (2019) with Serbian-born poet Natasha Boskic and Syrian poet Mohamad Kebbewar will be a highlight of this curation for the first time. Mary will also be getting us immersed in augmented reality; also Outspoken Bean and workshop by Toni Holland. Much admiration for Fran Sanders and her hard work and strong vision at Public Poetry – for tickets go to https://www.publicpoetry.net/reelpoetry/ and many thanks to Mary – who I am very pleased and proud to say is now co-managing screenings of Uprooted across the pond.
 
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​After Words
This was a wonderful event - Uprooted (screening of films about the refugee and migration crisis) was very well received and the poets that Fran selected to recite between film sections seemed to marry seamlessly with the films.  One poet said that she felt the films added to their readings, which was really meaningful. Fran and Yolanda made everyone feel very much part of the event, which was constantly stimulating.  Great memories and talks by Dave Bonta - I particularly liked his haikus, and Mary McDonald's wonderful, fun, helpful and detailed explanation of working with different apps. So want to go back next year. More to say later.  

​ Sad to see ZEBRA over, and many thanks to Thomas Zandegiacomo and the team for all their hard work. We were given a multitude of richly varied (German and British) poetry films: classic examples of the craft in Tim Webb's 15th February (poet Peter Reading) and Adele Myers' and Ra Page's Racing Time (poet Chris Woods). Bowled over by the 14-minute, animation tour de force – Four Acts for Syria directed by Kevork Mourad and Waref Abu Quba with poem by Raed Wahesh, which deservedly won the Best Film for Tolerance Prize. ‘A Message of Peace and Hope for the Syrian People’. Good to listen to the well-received British poetry section and also hear from leading German poet and musical performer Ulrike Almut Sandig. For the British ‘State of the Art’ section with Helen Dewbery, Chaucer Cameron and Lucy English I chose to present on three pairs of films comparing ‘Unseen Forces and the Protagonist’s Point of View’ – see essay on this site under writings (also at Moving Poems.com).

With Chaucer Cameron beginning by presenting Wild Whispers I presented in the schools and student workshop colloquium. I discussed workshops I had project managed since 2013, and led by ecopoet Helen Moore and multi-talented filmmaker Howard Vause. Three films were screened: including poetry films based on ‘Mametz Wood’ by Owen Sheers from sixth form students at St Gregory’s Catholic College, Bath; Midsomer Norton and Bath Dance College dance poetry film project; and Butterflies Haven poetry films from autistic teenagers. I was pleased to share my experiences which were well received, creating further discussion. It was also really interesting to hear how different highly talented academics/poets/filmmakers: Anna Anders, Sophie Maintigneux and Tim Webb worked with their students. Accomplished host Claudia Maass asked interesting and pertinent questions, including what would be our one wish – mine was, of course, better funding! But also, a wider understanding of poetry film and its benefits within community infrastructures. Leading cinematographer Sophie gave me a handshake after presenting, so the hard work has all been worth it!
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Giving space to new voices continued with Nicole May (behind the Manchester-based group Young Identity) who also ran a slam workshop on the Friday morning. The compelling documentary ‘We Are Poets’ (five years in the making) following six inner city teenagers from Leeds as they compete in a leading USA-based Poetry Slam competition, completed the picture. Overall, a great and also humbling experience. Not to forget much dancing at the end party to techno klezmer and speeded up covers – definitely the way to go for all festivals!​

top photo: Helen Dewbery, Chaucer Cameron, Lucy English, Sarah Tremlett and Roxana Vilk.
bottom: Four Acts for Syria - Directors: Kevork Mourad, Waref Abu Quba; poet: Raed Wahesh